Mikhailovsky Castle, Engineer Castle (Saint Petersburg)

The Mikhailovsky Castle or the Engineer Castle also called the St. Michael's Castle is the largest monument of architecture closing the history of the 18th century St. Petersburg architecture. It replaced the Summer Palace of Empress Elizabeth (by architect Francesko Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1740s) disassembled by order of Emperor Paul I immediately after Catherine II, his mother, died.

The general idea of the castle and its first design plans belong to Paul I. Construction of his future residence started in 1784. During the design process, which had been lasting for about 12 years, the Grand Duke referred to various architectural motifs he saw while being abroad in 1781 and 1782. At different stages of the project such architects as Henri Francois Gabriel Viollier, Vincenzo Brenna, and Vasili Bazhenov were invited. Gatchina was named as one of possible places to construct the Palace.

The son of Catherine II managed to execute his purpose only after accessed to the throne in November of 1796.

On the 28th of February 1797, the foundation stone ceremony took place. Construction of the Palace was managed by architect Vincenzo Brenna who revised the original design of the Palace and made painterly finishing of the interiors.

On 8th November 1800, the day of St. Michael, the Archangel, considered by Paul I to be his patron, the Palace was solemnly consecrated. However, works on its internal furnishing proceeded until March 1801.

The unique appearance of the Palace combining contradictory architectural tendencies and styles detaches it in the tideway of Russian classicism development. However, the Mikhailovsky Castle is perceived as an expressive symbol of the epoch of Paul I. Artistic taste and the originality of the owner and main creator, Emperor Paul I, took shape in its appearance.

The grand giant "Palace of St. Michael", as the Castle was referred to in documents of the 18th century, towered at the island limited with the Moika River and the Fontanka River from the north and east. The island was washed with specially dug channels, Voskresensky and Tserkovny, from the west and south. The fortification system that rounded the Castle and Connetable Square, lying in front of it, included channels, demi-bastions, drawbridges, and cannons. In the middle of the Square there was a monument to Peter the Great cast in 1745 to 1747 upon the model of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli designed in the lifetime of the grand great-grandfather of Paul I.

In 1819, the Mikhailovsky Castle was given to Main School of Engineers. This was where it got its second name from. Since February of 1823, the Castle has been officially named the Engineer Castle.

In 1820, Carlo Rossi redesigned the area around the Castle. The channels were buried.

In 1991, one third of the Castle rooms was bought by the Russian Museum. And it purchased the whole Castle in 1995. Today, permanent expositions are opened in the rooms. The Voskresensky Channel and Tryokhproletny Bridge were reconstructed and opened on the 300th Anniversary of St. Petersburg.

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